Propelling mechanism for traction operated machines



B. S. FERGUSON PROPELLING IECHANISM FOR` TRACTION OPERATED IACHINES .July 21, 1931.

Filed Oct. l. 1927 @mu/v s. FERGUSON.

ATTRNEV.

Patented 21', 193i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f BERLIN s. FERGUSON, or MARION, OHIO, AssIGNOn 'ro THE MARION s'rnAIIsHOvEI. COMPANY, or MARION, OHIO, A CORPORATION on OHIO I1a.oI E.1.I.INe IIEcHANIsM ron vTEAOTION OPERATED MACHINES Application led- October 1, 1927. Serial No. 223,415.

' and steering excavating machines and the like which are mounted on crawling traction trucks. l

One object of the invention 1s to rovlde a machine of this kind in which truc s on the Opposite sides-of the machine will be separately propelled and may be driven at the same speed or at different speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind with improved mechanism for manipulating the trucks to steer the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the trucks at one end of the machine may be separately driven and in which steering movement may be imparted to both trucks from the driving mechanism for either truck.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine having means for turning the trucks to steer the machine and in which the trucks having the greatest distance of travel during the turning of the machine may be driven at higher speed than the other trucks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a propelling and steering mechanism of this kind which will be simple in its construction and operation and which may be easily manipulated to cause the machine to travel in the desired direction.

. Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

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front and rear ends, respectively, of a main frame or base 1, a portion only of which is shown. It will be understood that the several trucks are arranged at the respective corners of the main frame, and thus provide the sole support for that frame. In power shovels, or other excavating machines, of the revolving type a platform is rotatably mounted vupon the main frame 1 and this platform carries the excavating. machiner and ower plant but inasmuch as the revo ving p atform and the mechanism carried thereby form no art of the present invention they have not een illustrated. The power plant on the revolving platform is connected with the pro elling mechanism for the trucks by meanso 'a vertical shaft 2 extending through the platform and the main frame at the axis of the platform, in the usual manner. In the present ari rangement this vertical shaft is connected at its lower end, by means of beveled gears 3, with a short shaft 4 extendin len hwiseof the main frame and journale in4 earings 5 carried by that frame.

The driving mechanism by means of which the several trucks are propelled ma take various forms but preferably this riving mechanism is of such a character that the trucks on one side ofthe machine may bev I driven independently of the trucks on the other side of the machine, thus enabling the trucks on the two sides of the machine to be operated in unison or at different speeds, or enabling the trucks on one side of the frame to be operated while the trucks on the other side of the frame remain idle. yIn the present construction the trucks on each side. of the machine are driven in unison. The trucks themselves may' be of any suitable character but I havehere shown them as the crawling traction type. Each truck comprises a truck frame 6 mounted for movement about a vertical axis 7 and having on each side thereof an endless track or crawlin tract-ion device 8. Each truckv frame has a ongitudinally extending steering arm 9 by means of which the truck may be turned about its vertical axis. Each truck is providedy with a transverse shaft 10 having its inner portion journaled in Abearings 11 on the main fi'ame and having its outer portion 12 mounted in the truck frame and connected with 'the inner portion by universal joints 13, thus permiting the shaft to accommodate itself to var ing positions of the truck with relation to t e main frame. The outer portion 12 ofthe shaft is connected with the crawling traction devices or endless tracks Sby suitable connecting mechanism, such as gear trains, but inasmuch as this connecting mechanism forms no part of the resent invention it has not been illustrate The inner portion of each shaft 10 has secured thereto a beveled gear 14 which meshes with a beveled pinion 15 on a longitudinally extending shaft. In the present instance there are twol of these longitudinal shafts, as shown at 16 and 17, the shaft 16 being connected with the shafts 10 on one side of 'the machine and the shaft 174 being connected with the shafts 10 on the other side of 'the machine. The longitudinal shafts may be connected with the vertical shaft in any suitable manner but I prefer to interpose variable speed mechanism between the respective longitudinal Ishafts and said vertical shaft. As here shown, I have loosely mounted on the respective longitudinal shafts 16 and 17 high speed gears 18 and 19 and low speed gears 20 and 21. The high speed gears of the two shafts both mesh with a inzien 22 on .the shaft 4, which is connected with the vertical shaft, and the low speed gears 20 and 21 both mesh with a pinion 23 on the shaft 4. The two shafts have mounted thereon clutches 24 and 25 adapted to connectv either the hi h speed gears or the low speed gears with 51e respective shafts or to disconnect both ofsaid' gears from the respective shafts. Thus the two longitudinal shafts may be driven in unison at the same speed, or they may be driven simultaneously at different speeds, or one shaft may be driven and the other may remain idle.

The steering mechanism b means of which the several trucks are turne about their vertical axes may take various forms -but preferably it is of such a character that` the trucks at one end of the machine may be turned inde ndently of the trucks at the other end o the machine, thus enabling the respective pairs of trucks, at the opposite ends of the machine, to be turned either in the same direction or in opposite directions. In the present installation I haveprovided each pair of trucks' with rotatable steering member or shaft which extends transversely to the main frame and is here shown as comprising an'intermediate portion 26 journaled in bearings 27 on the main frame, and outer or end portions 28 which are connected with the intermediate portion by uni-versal joints 29 and which have their outer` ends screw threaded, as shown at 30, and extending through nuts 31 carried by the steering arms 9 of the respective trucks. The nuts 31 are preferably rotatable about longitudinal axes with relation to the respective steering arms to permit the same to accommodate themselves to varying positions of the truck with relation to the mam frame. Mounted on the intermediateA ortion 26 of the steerin member -`are beve ed gears 32 which mes with inions 33 -on short shafts 34 journaled in earings 35 on the main frame and each having at its other end a spur gear 36 which meshes with a spur pinion 37 loosely mounted on the adjacent longitudinal shaft 16 or 17. Clutches 38 and 39 are mounte on shafts 16 and 17, respectively, to control the connection of the steering mechanism therewith and, in the resent instance these clutches are indepen entlyI operable, thus enabling the steering mechanism for either pair of trucks to be connected with either of the longitudinal shafts of the propelling mechy amsm.

The several clutches for the propelling and steering mechanisms ma be operated in any suitable manner but it wlll be understood that machines of this type are seldom propelled any great distance under their own power but that the propelling and steering thereof is for theI most part for the purpose of shifting the machine with relation to the work and, further, that the machine moves slowly from one position to the other. Consequently the clutches are not-frequently operated and it is entirely practical for these clutches to be shifted by a manon the ground and not by the operator on the machine.

Therefore, it is not essential that there should be any means mounted on the platform for manipulating these clutches. I have therefore shown no operating mechanismtherefor. C

When the machine is to be propelled straight ahead the clutches -25 and 24 are manipulated to connect either the high speed gears 18and 19 orthe low speed gears 20 and 21 with the longitudinal shafts 16, and 17 thus causing the trucks ,on both sides of the machine to be propelled at the same speed. When a turn is to be made the clutch 38 or 39 at the front end of the machine and on that side toward which the turn -is to` be high speed gear, 20 or 21, thus causing truclsv on the outer side of the machine to travel at a greater speed than the trucks on the inner side of the machine, thereby compensating for the diii'erence in distance which must be traveled by these trucks. Assuming that the r clutch 24 is thrown into mesh with'the low shaft 17 may be thrown into mesh with its pinion 37 tocause the rear trucks to be turned in a direction opposite to the direction inwhich the front trucks are'turned. When the trucks have been turned to the desired extent the clutches 38 and 39 are disconnected and the machine propelled bythe shafts 16 and 17 until the turn has been completed.

The clutch 39 at the front end of the machineand the clutch 38 ,at the rear end of the machine are then thrown in to restore the several trucks to their normal or straight line positions, after which the steering clutches are all disconnected and the clutch 25 shifted to connect the shaft 17 with the low speed gear 21, thus causing the machine to be moved straight ahead at a low speed. If it is desired to shift the machine laterally without changing the longitudinal position of the main frame this may be accomplished by connecting both clutches 24 and 25 with the low speed gears 2O and 21, then connecting the shaft 16 or 17, according to the direction in which the frame is to be moved, with the steering mechanism for both the front trucks and the rear trucks, thereby causing vboth of these trucks to be turned in the same direction so that the line of travel will be oblique to the length of the frame. While I have treated the lower end of the machine,

in the drawings, as the front end, it will be obvious that the machine may bel driven in either direction by reversing the direction of rotation of the vertical shaft and that the controlling mechanism will operate in the same manner as described when the machine moves in either direction.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to b e limited to the details thereof as various modifications Inay occur to a person skilled inthe art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new `and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a mechanism of the character `described, a pair of trucks each mounted for movement about a vertical axis, separate driving mechanisms for propelling the respective trucks, steering mechanism common to both-trucks to move the same simultaneously about their vertical axes, and'means for connectin said steerin mechanism with either of sai driving'mec anisms.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a pair of trucks each mounted for movement about a vertical axis, separate driving mechanisms .for propelling the respective trucks, each driving mechanism comprising a variable speed device, and means for connecting the same with a common source of power, steering mechanism common to both trucks to move the same simultaneously about their vertical axes, and means for connectin said steering mechanism with either of sai driving mechanisms.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a pair of trucks, separate mechanisms for propelling the respective trucks, each vcomprising a transverse shaft connected with one of said trucks and a longitudinal shaft having operative connection with said transverse shaft, variable speed devices for connecting the respective longitudinal shafts with a common source of power, mechanism for imparting steering movement to said trucks, and means for connecting said steering mechanism with either of said longitudinal shafts.

4. In a mechanism of the characterv .described, a pair of trucks, separate mechanisms for propelling the respective trucks, each comprising a shaft and means for connecting the same with one of said trucks, a rotatable steering member connected with both of said trucks, separate gear 4trains to connect said rotatable member with the respective shafts,

comprising a shaft and means for connecting the same with one of said trucks, a rotatable steering 'member connected with both of said trucks, means actuated by oneof said shafts to rotate said'steering member in one direction, means actuated by theother shaft to rotate said steering member in the other direction, and means for separately connecting said rotating means with the respective shafts. l

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a pair of trucks, separate driving mechanisms for propelling the respective trucks, each mechanism comprising a shaft and meansfor operatively connecting'the same with one of said trucks, two gears of different diameters loosely mounted on each shaft, pinion's meshing with the correspondv respective shafts, and clutches to control said end, portions with said intermediate portion, said end porconnections.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a pair of trucks each movable about a vertical axis and each having a steering` arm, separate driving mechanisms for pro elling the respective trucks, ya rotatable steering device comprisin an intermediate portion and avingl universal connection tions having screw threaded connection with v the respective steering arms, and means for detachably connecting said intermediate portion with either of said driving mechanisms;

8. In a mechanism of the character described, two pairs of trucks each truck being mounted for movement about a vertical axis, driving mechanism for propelling said trucks comprising two shafts, means for operatively connecting each shaft with the corresponding .trucks of the two pairs of trucks, means .for

rotating said shafts, rotatable steerin members operatively connected with t e -two trucks of the respective pairs of trucks, and clutch controlled means for operativel connecting said steering members with eit er of said shai' ts.

9. In a mechanism of the' character de i scribed, two pairs of trucks, each truck being mounted for movement about a vertical axis, driving mechanism for propelling said trucks comprising two shafts, means for operatively connecting each shaft with the corresponding trucks of the two pairs of trucks, means for rotating-'said shafts at the same speed or at diiferent speeds, rotatable steering members extending transversely to said shafts nearthe opposite ends thereof and each operatively connected with both trucks of the adjacent pair of trucks, separate gear trains for connecting each steering member with the respective shafts, and means for establishin and interrupting the connection between sai gear trains and said shafts. Y

10. In a mechanism of the character -described, a pair of crawling traction trucks each mounted for movement'about an individual vertical axis, driving mechanism for separatel propelling said trucks simultaneously at di erent speeds, means for connecting said driving mechanism with a source of power, steerin mechanism for turning said trucks about said vertical axes, and means for o eratively connecting said steering mechamsm with said driving mechanism.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, a frame, a pair of crawling traction trucks mounted at opposite sides of said frame and each movable about an individual verticalA axis, a member connected with both trucks of said pair to move the same in unison about their vertical axes, separate driving mechanisms for propelling said trucks, maeans for separately controlling the operation of said driving mechanisms, and means for sep- Langeac BERLIN s. FERGUSON. 

